"They're nothing but BJP gimmicks to defame Oppn": Congress on 'Cash for query' allegations against Mahua Moitra

Talking to ANI, Rawat said, "They are nothing but BJP's gimmicks to defame the opposition. They are misusing their majority and creating an atmosphere of terror."

The Congress leader further challenged the BJP to suspend all the opposition leaders from the Lok Sabha and said that in a democratic country, the opposition has its own stance and importance.

"I want to challenge the BJP to suspend all the opposition leaders from the Lok Sabha and then the world can see your might. In a democracy, the opposition has its own stance and importance. Who is Nishikant Dubey? If any investigating agency finds any facts, the institution will investigate it automatically. They just want to misuse the power of the majority. Speaker is an institution in itself. This is not an acceptable behaviour," Harish Rawat said.

Meanwhile, BJP leader Agnimitra Paul demanded an investigation into the matter and said that the party wants to know whether the Trinamool Congress MP has taken a bribe.

The general secretary of BJP's West Bengal unit said that if the charges are proven after an inquiry, TMC leader Mahua Moitra should be expelled from MP's post.

"Nishikant Dubey is putting the allegations that Mahua Moitra has been taking money or bribes in kind or cash from some Mr Hiranandani in exchange for raising particular questions in Parliament. We want to know if Mahua Moitra has taken a bribe. Let there be an inquiry and if it is proved, let her be expelled from the MP's post. We want an investigation," the BJP MLA from Asansol South said.

Earlier in the day, Nishikant Dubey, BJP MP, wrote a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla making "cash for query" allegations against TMC MP Moitra and demanded an inquiry committee against her.

Dubey called for her "immediate suspension" from the House alleging that "bribes were exchanged between her and businessman Darshan Hiranandani to ask questions in Parliament in exchange for cash and gifts".

In his letter titled "Re-emergence of nasty 'Cash for Query' in Parliament", Dubey has alleged "'serious Breach of Privilege', 'Contempt of the House' and a 'Criminal Offence' under Section 120A of IPC" by the Trinamool Congress MP.

Reacting to the complaint, about which Dubey also tweeted, Moitra said she will welcome any motion once the pending breach of privileges motions against ruling party members are dealt with.

"Multiple breach of privileges pending against fake degreewala & other @BJP4India luminaries. Welcome any motions against me right after Speaker finishes dealing with those. Also waiting for @dir_ed & others to file FIR in Adani coal scam before coming to my doorstep," she said in a post on 'X'. (ANI)